Just got home from the pool tonight and feel great. Did 1000 meters and tried to focus on form mostly. It took 40 mins to do the 1000 meter swim. The pool area mostly empty tonight but the parking lot was full…

I also got my new bike today!! That was a lot of fun. Note to self avoid the area around the university in the afternoon, lots of traffic, no parking, and people driving in circles (hoping to get a parking spot). Me I was in my 1966 New Yorker looking for a place to park… right that didn’t happen. Finally paid $3 to park in a lot (the guy shafted me a buck because I was there for 61 mins!!)

Ok onto my bike, it looks great a nice shiny black. It weighs nothing compared to my 8 year old mountain bike. I picked up a u-lock, some bottle holders, set of tools, a light (doesn’t fit right may just bring it back), and some gloves. Was going to get a jersey but the cheapest one was 55 and the one for the bike store (with advertising all over it) cost like 100!! Let’s see, they got paid by these local companies to have their logo and name put on this jersey then they charge the local consumer who will be wearing it 100 bucks?? I guess I didn’t get a jersey. Oh well I’ll check some of the local stores for some discounted ones.

I am hoping to get a really good ride in this Sunday to test the bike out. I want to do the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail. I believe it is a 34 mile round trip and that would make a great break-in ride for the bike and my ass.

My right knee is a little sore today from the lifecycle’s. I may have had the seat up to high. I will have to try it lower next time until I get a trainer for my bike.

My main goal in training at the moment is to get at least 3-4 good swims in a week and the same with the run and bike segments. I also want to do my stretches and get at least 3 days in on the weights. It is going to be hard but I keep telling myself it is worth it.

Well that is enough for today off to bed.

Chilly this morning here in Florida, anything below 50 is chilly.

I got a good workout in last night. Made it to the pool in time to do 900 meters, it took 45 minutes to do but it is only my second workout and I am hoping that my form improves. Which I almost drowned doing one of the drills, the one where you bring both hands together before you do your next stroke, man thought I was going to choke on that pool water more then once. It was very obvious to anyone watching that there was a newbie swimmer in the pool.

After the pool workout I drove over to the SW gym and put in ½ hr on the lifecycle and then a full workout in the weight room. I made it home around 11:00pm. Was really tired and after a light meal went straight to bed.

Chain reaction called me yesterday and told me my bike was in and ready to go!! I can’t wait to try it out. My wife told me my friend Jed was planning on coming up from Orlando this weekend for us to go ride the trails. Will be a good way to break in the bike I think.

I will more then likely pick up some aero bars for it also. I want to get a trainer and some new shoes also but the budget is the budget. I find myself falling right into my marathon training eating routine, which is a good thing. I have one day a week where I eat anything I want without pigging out and then stick to the good diet the rest of the week. I really don’t need to lose any weight (6’ 6” at 160-165lbs) so more concerned with my body getting the proper fuel.

I have a full work day today and then plan on hitting the gym again after work tonight, Hope to get a swim in again before they close followed by a bike and a run at SW gym.

This morning I managed to get up at 7:30 and reset the alarm for 8:30 hehe, I went to the gym after work last night and got another good 30 min lifecycle in another 30 min treadmill in. I didn’t get out of work until 9:00 so I missed my swim workout. I have to focus on getting out of work by 8-8:30 to get my swims in during my work week. Since swim is my weakest sport in the tri at the moment I really want to get some time put into it.

I am starting out real easy on both the run and bike. I did increase my pace on the run just to loosen up a bit. I went from a 12 min pace to a 10 min to an 8:30 min pace during the 30 min workout. Since I just got off a 6 month marathon training schedule I figured it wouldn’t hurt too much. This Sunday I will be doing my first long workout. Long in the sense it is going to be a ½ hour each of swimming, biking and running. It would almost be like doing a sprint tri except the swim comes last in this workout.

On another note, my bike should be in today. I hope so anyways, they said a few days on Sunday and damn it it’s Thursday already. Time to hit the shower and go to work, packed my bags for the pool already hope I get out early enough!

Today was supposed to be my day off from work, but of course that is not to be. One of my fellow coworkers was fired this week and I have to help pick up the slack. I was planning on going to the gym and do a nice workout today and I did succeed! I did a ½ hr on the lifecycle (can’t wait for my bike to get here) and another ½ on the treadmill. I also was able to get in my first set of weight training. Can’t wait for that to kick in!

All in all the University’s gym is a nice place to train. Lots of up to date equipment and lots of tight bodies to keep you entertained while you work out. I didn’t get to swim today but I will tomorrow night. The University’s websites are back up and running so I will be able to coordinate my schedule a little better now.

Talked to my friend Jed in Orlando to see what he was up to and he gave me the lowdown on some crap he had at work. I hope that works out for him. Well off to bed kind of tired tonight from the workout, a good tired though.

Observation of the day: A woman can hold the dogs back for a while, but when she wants them to they can go free!

Just got back from a friends house for the Super bowl! Way to go Bucs!

Bought my new bike today! Got a new Allez Sport and it should be in the store and ready for me by Wednesday, I can’t wait to try it out. The guy at Chain reaction gave me a great deal in my opinion about a 100 less then any other place I had been to. Plus it is really close to where I live and that will help when the bike needs its tune-ups.

I got my training schedule going and have my first two weeks all set! I am focusing mostly on swim and bike. The run is the one I opt out of if I need to lose a sport to train in for the day. That may change in a month or so after I find out how my bike skills are. If I get back in to the groove quickly I may back off the bike and focus a little more on the run. Time will tell.

My donations are starting to add up from my work! Hopefully by the end of next week I have the money for the race and can focus fully on my training.

One of the downfalls I have is I believe that most of my training will be at night. I get out of work around 8-9 every night. Over the next couple of weeks I am hoping a good time will become apparent.

Well I am dead tired so off to bed for now.

Observation of the day: Just when you think you know something, they change the rules!